All public officials should be aware that we are experiencing serious supply and price problems in the western United States electric power grid. Problems originating in California have affected power supplies and costs in other states, including Washington. The situation is very complex, involving factors such as low water supplies in reservoirs behind dams, increased competition for natural gas supplies, and the failure of California's attempt to deregulate the generation and distribution of electricity.

I have repeatedly called upon the people and businesses of the state of Washington to conserve energy. Only through conservation can we ensure that we will have adequate power supplies at affordable rates during this period of uncertainty. It is incumbent on us, as public officials, to both do our part to conserve energy, and set an example for others to follow.

Accordingly, pursuant to the Proclamation of the Governor, dated January 26, 2001, declaring an energy supply alert, and under the powers granted in Chapter 43.21G RCW, I hereby order as follows:

All state, county, city, town and other governmental agencies in Washington shall take all measures necessary and advisable to decrease total electricity and natural gas use in owned or leased buildings and offices by ten percent, and decrease and or shift electricity consumption from the peak demand periods of 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Attached is a sheet of suggested measures to help meet this goal. Questions or requests for technical assistance should be directed to the Energy Program of the Washington State Department of General Administration at 360-902-7300. Additionally, for technical assistance on energy efficiency for commercial offices or institutional buildings call the Energy Ideas Clearinghouse at 800-872-3568 or visit its website at www.energyideas.org.

This order is effective immediately, shall remain in place for the duration of the energy supply alert and all extensions of such alert, and is subject to suspension or modification by further order of the governor. As it applies to state agencies, until its expiration, this order supercedes Governor's Directive No. 01-01, dated January 8, 2001. The legislature's Joint Committee on Energy and Utilities, which has reviewed this order, has been consulted. This order is deemed necessary to preserve and protect the public health, safety, and general welfare, and to minimize, to the fullest extent possible, the injurious economic, social and environmental consequences of the energy supply alert.